Business Education 6 to 12

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Competencies and Skills and Blueprint

The test design below describes general testing information. The blueprints that follow provide a detailed outline that explains the competencies and skills that this test measures.

Test Design

table describing the format of the test, including test time, number of questions, and required passing score
Format Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions Approximately 80 multiple-choice questions
Time 2 hours and 30 minutes
Passing Score A scaled score of at least 200

 

Competencies, Skills, and Approximate Percentages of Questions

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.



table describing the competencies, skills, and approximate percentage of each competency's weight toward overall test score
Competency Approximate Percentage of Total Test Questions
1 Knowledge of information technology 15%
2 Knowledge of business communications 10%
3 Knowledge of accounting and personal finance 10%
4 Knowledge of business management and administrative procedures 10%
5 Knowledge of entrepreneurship and marketing 10%
6 Knowledge of business law and ethics 10%
7 Knowledge of foundations, teaching methods, and professional development 15%
8 Knowledge of international business 10%
9 Knowledge of career development 10%

Competencies and Skills

Competency 1—Knowledge of information technology

  1. Identify touch keyboarding techniques.

  2. Apply functions and common features of word processing, spreadsheet, database, digital publishing, presentation, multimedia, and communication software appropriate for specific tasks.

  3. Differentiate between the characteristics of networks used in business applications.

  4. Apply diagnostic and troubleshooting techniques to hardware and software problems.

  5. Identify current entry-level computer coding practices.

  6. Identify characteristics and uses of emerging technologies and devices.

Competency 2—Knowledge of business communications

  1. Apply the rules for standard grammar and punctuation usage.

  2. Demonstrate communication skills in written, verbal, and nonverbal forms.

  3. Apply effective internal and external communication skills.

  4. Apply standard formats for business documents.

Competency 3—Knowledge of accounting and personal finance

  1. Identify and apply manual and computerized accounting concepts, principles, and procedures.

  2. Interpret and use financial data and statements.

  3. Apply personal money management and consumer credit strategies to make informed decisions.

  4. Evaluate services and products provided by financial institutions.

Competency 4—Knowledge of business management and administrative procedures

  1. Identify and apply management theories, styles, functions, and procedures.

  2. Analyze business organizational structures and management responsibilities.

  3. Apply human resource management principles (e.g., employee benefits, advancement, conflict resolution).

  4. Apply administrative office procedures (e.g., records management, file management).

  5. Analyze procedures for implementing information technology security, privacy, and risk management policies.

  6. Identify characteristics of professional business behavior and effective customer service strategies.

Competency 5—Knowledge of entrepreneurship and marketing

  1. Differentiate among the types of business ownership.

  2. Identify the characteristics of entrepreneurship.

  3. Analyze strategies for starting and maintaining a profitable business.

  4. Apply principles of the marketing mix (i.e., price, place, promotion, and product) and distinguish among various marketing strategies.

Competency 6—Knowledge of business law and ethics

  1. Interpret common legal processes, procedures, and documents associated with business and technology.

  2. Identify the major types of laws (e.g., intellectual property, employment, computer, criminal, property, international) and their characteristics.

  3. Differentiate among the jurisdiction of federal, state, district, and local courts and laws.

  4. Analyze the impact of U.S. government regulations on business operations.

  5. Analyze the relationships between contract law, law of sales, and consumer law.

  6. Assess ethical practices as they relate to business.

Competency 7—Knowledge of foundations, teaching methods, and professional development

  1. Identify professional and student publications, organizations, and current trends affecting business education.

  2. Apply strategies for curriculum planning and development for diverse learners.

  3. Apply strategies for developing and cultivating stakeholder partnerships.

  4. Apply instructional strategies to assist all students in developing employability skills.

  5. Apply effective lesson presentation and assessment techniques for diverse student populations using a variety of learning platforms.

  6. Evaluate tools and instructional resource materials such as hardware, software, textbooks, and digital content for diverse learners.

Competency 8—Knowledge of international business

  1. Apply appropriate communication strategies for effective international business relations.

  2. Analyze the impact of international business on domestic and foreign economies.

  3. Analyze social, cultural, and ethical factors that affect and influence the global business environment.

  4. Analyze political, legal, and economic factors that affect and influence the global business environment.

  5. Analyze financial and marketing decisions that affect and influence the global business environment.

Competency 9—Knowledge of career development

  1. Evaluate tools, resources, and strategies that facilitate the transition from school to college and careers.

  2. Identify emerging workplace trends, career paths, and related issues.

  3. Analyze characteristics of workplace expectations and soft skills as they relate to career development.